Loading machine



F. A. HALLECK LOADING MACHINE Dec. l, 1931.

Filed Nov. l, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (ZZ/f.

Dec. 1, 1931. A. HALLECK LOADING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. l, 1.927

-lil

Patented Dec. 1, 1931 unirsi) STAT-ES rATENr `oi-I-ucl'a FRANK A. HALLECK, or omesso, kimiivors, yAssionon To zsULLrvAN MACHINERY COMPAllYrA GORP-QBATION OF MASSACHUSETTS i, LOADING MAGHIN-n Application ieanovemter' 1, 1927. serian No. 230,334.

4r1`l1is invention relates to loading machines,

and more particularly,'but not exclusively, .tor

veyor. Another object isto provide ;an

proved coal loading machine having 'a reversible toothed rollerfo improved construction, the roller 'being rotatable in one direction :to rake down theloose coal onto the gathering conveyor and rotatable in the :reverse ydirecv tion to'underminethe 'coal when large blocks or standing coal are" encountered. "Yet'wanother object is to provide .an improved, reversible toothed roller having improved, re-

silient, pivotal mounti-ngsv for the reversible.

teeth. These and other objects and fadvantages :of this invention Will, subsequently more fully lappear as the .description proceeds.

ln the vaccompanying drawingsl have shown .for purposes 'of illustration, fone ftorm which my invention inay'assume in practice. In these-dravvfings, Y Fig. 1 is a central, longitudinally extending, vertical sectional Vview'tafken through a coal loading machine equipped with the irnproved reversible roller, p arts of the machine beingshovm .ifn'elevatio .A Fig. 2'isia transversevertical .sectional View taken on line'Q-TQ-fof `Fig. k1.

Sri-s a detail Y'sectional vi'ewtalren on line -3--3 of Fig. .2. i

Figs. i4 and y5 are detail -views,partiallyin section. illustrating the improved 'reversible toothed roller. y Y In this illustrative embodiment otfthekfinvention there 'is shown a coal loading Vmachine of the general type describedin my copending application, 'Serial No. 197 ,'95 1, @tiled J une 10, 1927, now matured into Patent :No 1,811,927, lpatented June 30, 1931. r-lll-1e improved machine generally comprises a yframe 1 mountedion and'propelled 'by endlesstraction 'treads '12. Pivotaillymounted on the trame V1 at 3 is a shovel 4, While ycooperating With this shovel is a 'reversibletoothedroller 5 of improved construction pivotallymounted at 6 on 'the trame. This roller `is adapted to raket-'hefloosev coal-downwardly onto the shovel 4. Guided on .the shovel 1a-nd traine 1 .is an endless front gatheringconveyor 7 which -is Vadaptedto"move the coal rearwardly from the shovel and discharges the coal ionto ausuial rear or load-ing conveyor S.

The mechanism for :swinging iandrotating the -t'oothedroller 5 is'substantiallythe same as that described in 'my lcop'endingiapp'licas tion mentioned above, and comprises aniotor 9, herein preferablyv an eleot-ric'mot'or, housed within the .frame 1 -and having yits -farmatnre shaft 1t) horizontally disposed and extending longitudinally of' the machine; As shownin F ig. 1,'`1Xed tothe 'for-'Ward endof theiarmature .shaft at 11 is a bevel 'pinion 12 `Which meshes with a large :bevel gear' 13- (fseealso Fig. 2) secured by a set screw 14 to a hori-A zontally disposed shaft :1:5 extending transl 'versely of the machine andjournaledfin bear 'ings 16. The bevel .gea-r 18 carries a .series of clutch plates 17 which are `interleave'dwvith a correspondingseriesof clutch'p'lates 18- carried by a clutch member l19 fthreadedly 'conneet-ed to .afslee've 20'the latter surrounding the shaft and being 'journaled ina bearini-g` 21. Slidab'ly mountedon the sleeve20 isa clutch applying member 22 AWhfie'hii's inormally maintained in its applied position e'by means 'of a coiled'spring 23lencircling the sleeve `v-and reacting against :a :harige 24C on .the'lattenv The member 22 `isadapted"to loe-released against' the tension i'ol' the 23 by means of a shipper yoke 25 pivotally mounted on the machine frame and having suitable operating means including an operating lever 26. In accordance with this illustrative embodiment of the invention, the sleeve 2O has keyed thereto at 27 a spur pinion 28 which meshes with .a large spur gear 29 fixed at 30 to a horizontally disposed hollow shaft 31 extending` transversely of the machine parallel with and above the shaft 15. The shaft 31 is journaled in bearings 32 suitably carried by the machine frame and has fixed thereto at 33 chain sprockets 34 which are adapted to drive the frontconveyor 7. Fixedto the-hub of the spur gear- 29 is a spur gear 35 which meshes with an intermediate gear 36 (see Fig. 3) journaled at 37 on a stub shaft 38 suitably fixed to the machine frame 1. The gear 36 meshes with a spur gear 39 fixed to a shafti`40 and ournaled in bearings 41. Connected to the gear 39 as by a dentalclutch 42 is a spur gear 43 meshing with la spur. gear 44 rotatably mounted in a bearing 45 on the machine frame. As clearly Yshown in Fig. 2, the spur gears 35 and 44 have clutch teeth 46 and 47 respectively formed on their inner faces, while splined at 48 to a shaft 49 is a jaw clutch member 50'having sockets 51 adapted.Y to selectively receive the teeth 46 and 47. The shaft 49 is disposed coaxially with and extends through the hollow shaft 31 and is journaled in bearings 52. Cooperating with theclutch member 50 is a suitable shipper member 53 having an operating lever (not shown) conveniently located at the side of the machine. As illustrated, fixed by keys 54 to the ends of the shaft 49 are chain sprockets 55 engaging endless chains 56 housed within hollow parallel supporting arms 57 on Vthe outer end of which the toothed roller 5 is mounted. The chains 56 engage sprockets58*rotatably mounted on the supporting arms 57. These chain sprockets 58 have secured Athereto and rotatable therewith chain sprockets 59 connected through endless chain connections 60 with chain rsprockets 61, the latter being suitablyr fixed to each Yend of the roll or drum 62 of the toothed roller 5. vIt is accordingly evident that when the-friction clutch 17, 18 is applied and when'the clutch member() is suitably connected, 'the toothed roller 5 may be connected in driving relation with the motor 9 to rotate'in one. direction or the other as desired. In this'instance the roller 5 rotates at the same speed in both directions, but it is obvious/that the speed of roller rotation may be varied, it being desirable under certain7conditions to rotate the roller at a higher speed in onedirection than in the other. Y 1

The mechanism for swinging the toothed roller 5 comprises a clutch housing 65 (see Fig..2) fixed by a key and set screw' 66 tothe shaft l5. The clutch housing 65 carries'a series of clutch plates 67 which are interleav-ed with a corresponding series of clutch plates 68 carried by a clutch member 69 threadedly connected to a sleeve 70 surrounding the vshaft 15 and rotatably mounted thereon. Mounted on the sleeve 70 and slidable axially relative thereto is a clutch applying member 71 with which a pivoted shipper yoke 72 cooperates. The yoke 72 has' suitable operating means including an opera-ble lever 73. The sleeve 72 has fixed thereto at 74 a spur gear 75 meshing with a large spur gear 76 journaled at 77 on the shaft 49 and having secured thereto a chain sprocket 78. As illustrated, the `sprocket 78 is connected through an endless chain connection 79 to a chain sprocket 80 suitably fixed to a horizontally disposed shaft- 81 extending 'transversely of the machine and supported on forwardly projecting brackets 82 suitably carried by the machine frame 1. The shaft 81 has suitably fixed thereto at the opposite ends thereof spur pinions 83 which mesh with the teeth of gear segments 84 suitably rigidly secured to the inner sides of the roller supporting arms 57 .e From the foregoing description it'will be evident that when the clutch 67, 68 is applied, the toothed roller 5 may be swung by power upwardly or' downwardlyv as desired. The machine frame 1 has housed therein a plural speed transmission mechanism driven from t-he rear end of the motor 9 and this mechanism is adapted to drive vthe traction treads 2 forwardiy at a slow loading speed and at a fast forward moving speed,V and also rearwardly at fast moving speed.. The rear conveyor 8 is also driven from the rear end of the motor 9. As the driving connections for the traction treads 2 and the rear conveyory 8 are clearly described in my copending application, Serial-Nd 160,486, filed J an. 11, 1927, and do not enter into this invention, further description of the same is herein considered unnecessary.

In the improved reversible roller construction the roll or drum 62 is traversed by a series of staggered openings or bores 85 which receive pins 86 each having at one end thereof abifurcated eye portion 87. end of each of the pins is headed over as at 88 to rigidly secure the same to the roll. Pivotally mounted on the eye portion 87 of each of the pins is a tooth carrying block or tool holder 89. This block or tool holder has formed therein Yangularly disposed recesses which receive teeth or tools 90 and 91 of different length, these tools being rigidly held in the block by means of set screws 92.

The other i i 'hij lli)

Formed on the inner side of the blocks are abutments or stops 93 and 94 having arcuate surfaces whichare adapted to alternatively engage the periphery Vof the roll 62 when the block is swung into its different operative positions. Formed in the roll 62 and ar- CIL ranged parallel with the bores are yrecesses and disposed Iin reach of these Vrecesses is a coiledlspring 96 engaging a ibolt 97 pivotally connected yat .98 to rt-he .block 89. These springs normally ymaintain the `blocks in the Yposition shown'in Fig. 4. i

y ln the operation of the improved loading machine, the latter is :moved up .to the working face at a high speed under the `propulsion of the traction treads 2. When the working face is reached, the clutch 67, G8is applied and the toothed roller is thrownupwardly to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. The machineis thenfed forwardly'until the penetrating edge of the shovel 4 moves bencaththe coal a sutlicient distance. The operator then shifts the clutch member `50 into engagement with `Athe clutch :teeth 46 on the gear 35 and consequently the toothed roller 5 is rotated in a .counterclockwi-se direction (see Figs. 1 and 5). Simultaneously the :tront conveyor 7 is rapidly circulated within its guides. The toothed roller 5 is then swung downwardly under the control of the friction clutch 67, 68, the rotating roller raking the loose coal .downwardlyand inwardly onto the shovel 4 where it is Apicked "up and moved rearwardly by the front conveyor .7. As the teeth 91 engage the loose coal `during the raking operation, rthe reaction of the saine against the coal causes the blocks or tool holders 89 to swing outwardly to vthe position shown in Fig, theabutments 93 limiting the outward swingingv movement of the blocks. its the blocks swing outwardly, the springs 98 are compressed, and the'teeth 90 move inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 5. vBy reason of the resilient mountings for the teeth 91 a yielding' pulling action rather than a rigid chisel action is obtained and the coal is pulled down instead of being powdered. ln instances where the coal at the face which has been undercut by the .coal cutter is not shattered by the shots sufficiently to permit the toothed roller 5 to rake down the coal, the coal merely sagging by its `own weight in large bloclrs or lumps to the mine floor, .the operator throws out the clutch 17, 18 and shifts the clutch member'O into engagement with the gear 44, and consequently the toothed roller is rotated in a reverse or clockwise direction (see Figs. 1 and 4). The toothed roller 5 is then lowered to the .position indicated by full lines in Fig. 1 and the machine is i'ed forwardly at a slow speed,l the toothed roller digging beneath the block of standing coal, breaiingdown kthe coal at the tace and moving the coal in large lumps or blocksonto the shovel 4. During the `und `dermining operation, the teeth 9() areactive wh ile the teeth 91 are held in their inoperative position-s, as shown in Fig. 4,1by the .coiled i 'is 96, these springs holding the abut- 94 on the blocks or holders 89 against the roll v62; and-.as Ia result a more positive action with more powerful 'leverage is obtained at this time. It is obvious VVJthat if desired the toothed roller may be rotated in a countercloclwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 during .the undermining operation, and after the roller hasbeen fed beneath the coal a suitable distance, the roller may. be reversed to break down the coal onto the front conveyor?. The roller 5 is notadapted to undercutthe solid coal, but merely digs beneath the coal subsequent to the shooting of the coal from the solid. It .is furtherobvious that during both directions of rotation the 'teeth not in use are movedinwardly out of the way andas a result .all dragging action of `the teeth onthe coal is eliminated. Moreover, it will `be evident that by yproviding 'the improved resilient mounting for the blocks it is possible to rake down the loose coal onto the .atherinfr conve for in -an im aroved man- 1ier,fthe springs yyielding upon engagement ofthe teeth .91with the coal, andas a result, breakage of the-coal is reduced to a minimum. These and yother uses and .advantages of the improved reversible roller will be'clearly apparent to .those skilled in this art. y

YvT-hile I have inlthis application specifically described one form which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form oit the same is shown :for pur.- poses of illustration and thattthe invention may be modified and embodied lin various other Vforms without departing from its spirit or v'thescope of the appended claims.

llVhat -I claim as new and desire -to secure bv Letters Patent is U41. lira-loading machine, materia-l gathering means Vincluding a reversibleltoothed roller and resilient pivotal mountings for lthe teeth on said roller each including -a pivoted holder Vcarrying opposite'ly directed teeth.y

2. In a Aloading machine, material vgathering means includinga reversibletoothed roller, and resilient ,pivotal mountings for the teeth on saidfroller each including .a pivoted holder carry-ing o ppositely directed teeth and spring means acting on said .holders 3. In a loading machine, material gathering mea-ns including a reversi-ble roller, and toothholders pivot-ally mounted on said roller and each carrying oppositely directed teeth operatingin a generally verticaldirection, said tooth yholders being adapted by engagement of the teeth with the work to swing about their pivots u-pon rotation ot said roller in one direction to vary theirV eiiective operating position and having abutment element-s engagea-ble with the cylindrical surface of the roller in their two positions.

4. In a loading machine, material gathering Ymeans .including a reversible roller, tooth holders pivotallyT mounted on said roller and each carrying oppositely directed teeth, and. resilient imeans orinaintaining said holders inv' means including in operative position'during roller rotation in one direction.

f 5. In a loading machine, material gatherg a reversible roller, tooth holders pivotally mounted on said roller and each carrying koppositely directed teeth, and resilient means for. maintaining said holders in operative position during roller rotation in one direction, said resilient means being adapted 4to yield upon roller rotation in a reverse direction.

6. In a loading machine, material gathering means including a roller rotatableI in opposite directions, teeth carried by said roller and operating in a generally vertical direction, and yresilient mountings for said teeth whereby different teeth are operative to engage the material to be loaded during roller rotation in opposite di rections.V

'2'.y In a loading machine, material gathering'means including av roller rotatable in opposite directions, a plurality of members pivotally connected to said roller, and oppositely extending teeth carried byeach member and operating in a generally vertical direction, said teeth being arranged on said pivoted members at different distances from vtheir pivots and certain of said teeth being operative to engage the material to be loaded during. rollerv ,rotation in one direction while other teeth are operative during reverse rotation of said roller.

-8. In a-loading machine, material gather'- ing means including a reversibleroller having teeth operating in a generally vertical direction and pivotal mountings for said teeth, said teeth being arranged on said mountings at different distances from their pivots and said mountings being adapted to swing about their pivots to bring different teeth into engagement with the material to be loaded upon roller rotation in opposite directions.

9. In a loading machine, material gathering means` including a reversible toothed roller, teeth therefor operating in a generally vertical direction, and pivotal mountings for the teeth on said roller and having tooth carrying arms of diiferent lengths, certain of said teeth being adapted by engagement thereof with'the work to swing outwardly away from V-said roller upon rotation of said roller in one direction. p

10. In a loading machine, material gathering means including a reversible toothed roller, and pivotal mountings for the teeth on said roller, certain of said teeth being adapted by engagement thereof with the work to swing outwardly away from said roller upon rotation of said roller in one direction while said teeth are disposed inwardly toward said roller upon rotation of said roller in the reverse direction, and resilient means for maintainingsaid-mountings in said latter position. j l

117. In a loading machine, material gathering means including a reversible roller, and tool holders having a plurality of operating positions and each carrying reversely positioned tools operating in a generally vertical direction, said -holders being adjustably mounted on said roller and movable into one or the other of their operating positions automatically'in accordance with the direction of. roller rotation to render operative different tools upon engagement of the tools with the work, certain of said tools moving about the aXis of said roller in an orbit substantially larger' than the orbit of the other tools upon engagement of the latter with the material.

12. In a loading machine,'mater1al gathering means including a reversible roller, tools therefor operating in a generally vertical direction, and tool holders having a plurality of operating positions and pivotally mounted on said roller for movement automatically by engagement of the tools with the worlr in one or the other of their operating positions to change the operating position of the tools in accordance with the direction of roller rotation, certain of said tools moving about the axis of said roller when said holders are in one position in an orbit substantially larger than the orbit of the other tools when said holders are in their other position upon engagement of the latter tools with the material.

13. In a loading machine, material gathering means comprising a reversible roller, tools therefor, and resiliently mounted pivoted tool holders onV said roller swingable about their pivotsY upon engagement of the tools with the work automatically in accordance with the direction of roller rotation to render operative different tools.

14. In a loading machine, material gathering means comprising a reversible reversely toothed roller, and resilient pivotal mountings for the teeth on said'roller whereby different sets of teeth by engagement thereof with the work are rendered automatically active in accordance with the direction of roller rotation.

15. In a loading machine, material gathering means comprising a material engaging element movable in an orbit about a substantially horizontal line, actuating means therefor, and means for resiliently supporting said element by said actuating means.

16. In a loading machine, material gathering means including a material engaging element, means for `supporting said element for movement in a generally vertical direction, and means whereby said element is adapted to engage material with a movement outwardly toward the material, said means normally tending to hold said element in its innermost position. I

17. The combination set forth in claim 16 further characterized in that the means Wherebysaid matcrialengaging element is movable outwardly toward the material includes a resilient mounting.

18. In a loading machine, material gathering mechanism including material engaging means, and means for supporting and actuating said engaging means for movement in either direction in a closed path about a substantially horizontal line, said latter means having a spring mount-ing whereby said material engaging means is adapted to have forward movement toward the material and away from said line during the forward and downward movement thereof.

19. In a loading machine, material gathering mechanism comprising actuating means, and material engaging means driven thereby and adapted, when actuated in one direction and upon engagement with the material, to have movement in a non-circular closed path about a substantially horizontal line, and to have a different closed path of movement while remaining in operative engagement with the material upon reversed operation.

20. In a loading machine, material gathering means including a roller, tools thereon operating in parallel vertical planes along the length of said roller, pivotal mountings on said roller having arms of diferent lengths for receiving said tools whereby upon rotation of said roller in one direction one set of tools is rendered operative to engage the material, while upon rotation of said roller in the opposite direction the other set of tools engages the material, and motor operated devices for ei'ecting rotation of said roller in either of opposite directions.

21. In a loading machine, material gathering means including a roller, tools thereon operating in a generally vertical direction in closed orbits, and adjustable mountings for the tools on said roller whereby automatically one set of tools upon engagement of the material during rotation of said roller in one direction move in orbits of one size and upon rotation of said roller in the reverse direction the other set of tools upon engagement with the material move in orbits of a different size.

22. In a loading machine, material gathering mechanism including a rotary gathering device having material engaging means moving in a generally vertical direction, and an adjustable mounting on said gathering device for said material engaging means whereby automatically said material engaging means upon engagement with the material moves in an orbit, and upon reversal of said gathering device said material engaging means upon engagement with the material moves in a different orbit.

23. In a loading machine, material gathering means including a rotary gathering device disposed on a substantially horizontal axis, material engaging means including 0ppositely directed material engaging elements arranged at different distances from the 

